Inmate warns students about gangs, prison

GEORGE PACCIELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERNorthern State Prison inmate "Trice," a former gang member, talks to students at Warren Hills Middle School about his life. At 29, Trice still has three years left to serve for an armed robbery conviction, and spoke to students as part of the Gang Awareness and Prevention Program.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- A pin drop could be heard in the gymnasium of Warren Hills Regional Middle School as students listened to Northern State Prison inmate "Trice" recount his story of joining a gang at a young age and winding up behind bars the last nine years of his life.

In halting words, he talked of the difficult life of an ex-gang banger and said it was not worth the price he is paying now. At age 29, Trice still has three years left to serve for an armed robbery conviction.

"I got all of my education locked up. You have an opportunity to get an education here," Trice said to students. "Everyday you don't, doesn't only affect you, it affects your family and your friends. You have a lot of opportunities now. School is a must."

Trice voluntarily participated in a three step program at the Newark prison to join the Gang Awareness and Prevention Program in hopes of stopping children and teens from getting involved with gangs. He talked at Warren Hills Regional Middle School on May 30.

"I'm giving back," Trice said later. "I want to help them (the students) prevent the same mistakes I did."

GEORGE PACCIELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERWarren Hills Middle School Principal Jack Paulus looks on as seventh grade student Lisa Apgar asks Northern State Prison inmate "Trice" a question during the Gang Awareness and Prevention Program held at the school.

Wearing a tan short sleeve shirt, pull-on pants and soft-soled boots (an outfit the inmates wear for programs) Trice held up the everyday garb of a prison inmate -- a grey jumpsuit with big black lettering spread across the back and white canvas sneakers. He said two inmates share a tiny cell and sleep in small twin beds and he showed personal items, an orange plastic spoon, alcohol free roll-on deodorant and a travel size white plastic toothbrush, which inmates are allowed to use.
The sneakers are pull-on with soft soles and the plastic spoons are smooth, Trice explained, because they are designed to keep inmates from "stomping" and "stabbing" each other. If you loose the spoon, he said, you "make due" because you don't get another.
Admitting he rebelled as a child, Trice said, "That's the first bad mistake I made... I didn't want to listen to my mother."
Instead he wanted to "fit in" and thought being a "gangster" would make him "cool" like other gang members that had cars and women. He found out later he was instead to be "used" over and over again to hurt people, perform robberies and commit other illegal activity.
"They don't tell you that you have to jump people; that you have to rob people," Trice said. "They use you. These guys don't care about you."
The bottom line, he told students, is to "just say no" to any type of gang related activity.
"Don't follow other people. Be your own person, be yourself and always be aware of your surroundings," Trice said. "If you know someone involved in a gang, don't get involved. I wish I had done that. It's too late for me, but it's not too late for you."
The program is sponsored by New Jersey Department of Corrections, Special Investigations Division. To participate, inmates (who are ex-gang members) must successfully complete a stringent Security Threat Group Management Unit Phase Program at Northern State Prison that can take several months.
"(The program) gives kids a different perspective of gangs and of prison life," said Northern State Prison Senior Corrections Officer Kyle Priester. "Some young people think going to prison is cool. I wouldn't wish prison on my worst enemy. That's how bad it is. State prison is like living with 3,000 bullies."
According to New Jersey Department of Corrections Senior Investigator Reginald Easley, they have identified some 250 gangs in the state and the number continues to grow. Last year the program inmates talked to some 50,000 students in 100 schools throughout the Garden State. They also take their message to juvenile detention centers, community groups and churches and run preventative programs about gangs for teachers, administrators and parents.
After a question and answer session, Principal Jack Paulus told students, "You have a lot of important messages here today. Hopefully the information that was conveyed to you today will register and you will make positive decisions in high school and in life."
Staff writer Jacqueline Lindsay can be reached at (908) 852-5103 or jlindsay@njnpublishing.com.

Gang related behavior and changes to look for in your community:
-- Negative behavior changes
-- Drop in grades
-- Change in attitude toward authority
-- Drug use or excessive alcohol use
-- Gang graffiti
-- Photos of gang members on display
-- Appearance of gang names, slogans and insignias appearing on personal belongings
-- Wearing of gang colors
-- Tattoos
-- Flashing gang signs to others
-- Freely admitting gang membershipIf you don't want your kids to be targets of gang recruiters:-- Keep track of their activities
-- Show interest in what they are doing
-- Know who their friends are
-- Encourage them to get involved in after-school activities
-- Talk to them about proper values
-- Let them know you love them
For more information about Gang Awareness and Prevention Program, contact Coordinator Melissa Johnson at (609) 292-9362 or e-mail Melissa.Johnson@doc.state.nj.us. Information courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Corrections